Z Capital Partners announced that it has named David Barr, Joyce Hrinya and John Dupuy as Partners on Z Capital's Operating Team. The Operating Team assists in conducting operational due diligence, building management teams and in value-creation initiatives for Z Capital's portfolio companies.

"We are very pleased to announce David, Joyce and John as Partners on Z Capital's Operating Team," said James J. Zenni, President and Chief Executive Officer of Z Capital. "Their collective track record of generating growth and transforming businesses is impressive and we will benefit from their combined expertise in various industries where they have significant experience, including retailing, consumer products, consumer food, industrial manufacturing and logistics. We look forward to their contributions to the entire Investment Team as we continue to drive growth and capitalize on opportunities to further enhance our diverse  portfolio of companies."

Barr is a Managing Director and member of the Operating Team of Z Capital and serves as a director of Mrs. Fields-Famous Brands and Real Mex, both Z Capital Partners portfolio companies. Barr has extensive experience in consumer goods, retail, restaurants and operations including privately held PMTD Restaurants LLC (a franchisee of KFC) and The Jewelry Group (the third largest jewelry retailer in Australia). In addition, he sits on the Board of Directors of Del Frisco Restaurant Group, Inc., Charles and Colvard, Inc., and Wornick, Inc. Barr previously served as the Chairman of Rita Restaurants Corp (dba Don Pablo's Mexican Restaurants and Hops Grill & Brewery) from 2007 to 2014. In addition, he was the Chairman of Samuels Jewelers, Inc. from 2000 to 2006 at which time he led the sale of the company to Gitanjali Gems. He began his career in Atlanta with Price Waterhouse (1986-1991) and then joined Pizza Hut, Inc. within its finance department (1991-1994). From 1994 to 1998, Barr was the CFO and then the CEO of Great American Cookies, a franchisor and operator of 367 mall based cookie stores, which was eventually sold to Mrs. Fields.

Hrinya is a Managing Director and member of the Operating Team of Z Capital. Ms. Hrinya serves on the board of Mrs. Fields Famous Brands a Z Capital portfolio company. Hrinya has 25 years of experience helping companies build profitable brands. She has held key executive positions in marketing, strategic planning, business development and customer satisfaction. Prior to joining Z Capital, Hrinya served as Founder and Managing Partner of A&R Strategy Partners, a strategic marketing consulting firm that helps companies grow through acquisition and retention of profitable customers. Hrinya was previously Senior Vice President of Marketing and Customer Satisfaction at Helzberg Diamonds a Berkshire Hathaway company from 2004 to 2010, at which time she led all marketing and customer satisfaction functions for Helzberg's 240 stores and served in a governance role as member of a six person Executive Board. She began her career in Cleveland with General Electric Company (1984-1986) and then joined the Sara Lee Corporation, an American consumer-goods company.

Dupuy is a Managing Director and member of the Operating Team of Z Capital. Dupuy serves on the board of MSD Automotive  Group, LLC, a Z Capital portfolio company. Dupuy has substantial experience in executing operational turnarounds and business transformations as well as devising growth strategies for middle market industrial, business services and consumer products companies in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Prior to Z Capital, Dupuy was an Operating Partner at H.I.G. Bayside Capital and as CEO, led the restructuring of AirNet, a cargo airline and Bayside Capital portfolio company. Prior to Bayside Capital, Mr. Dupuy was an Operating Partner at Arsenal Capital Partners where he led transportation, logistics and supply chain investment efforts.

Z Capital Partners, L.L.C. is a leading private equity firm with approximately $1.7 billion of regulatory assets and committed capital under management and with offices in Lake Forest, IL and New York, NY. Z Capital pursues an opportunistic, value-oriented approach in private equity that includes making control investments in middle-market companies that may require growth capital, turnaround, restructuring or other special situations.

Z Capital portfolio companies currently have aggregate worldwide annual revenues of approximately $3 billion, sell products in 98 countries, and employs in excess of 200,000 associates directly and through joint ventures.